Beginning Again: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

It’s very late tonight, approaching tomorrow actually, and I am luxuriating in the quiet of a house which has been cleaned throughout the day and is now resting. As I am.

How lovely it is to take this book down from the shelf, to find its pages yellowed since I last read it in what? 2006? I can’t remember, but I remembered how much I loved it then, and I shiver to discover how much I am loving it now.

There is something about the narrator which resonates with me. Not that I went to an international school, or that my father was a diplomat, or that I discovered an old book on the top shelf of his library with mysterious personal letters tucked inside.

No, it is the odd little phrase which makes me catch my breath, such as this one: “I preferred solitude anyway; it was the medium in which I had been raised, in which I swam comfortably.” (p. 4)

It is precisely the sort of book I adore, one with an eerie aura and a heroine after my own heart.

I bought The Swan Thieves, in hardcover, after finishing The Historian because I liked Kostova's writing so much. Yet I've not read it, only her first book. I can't recommend The Historian enough, and now is the perfect time to read it with The Estella Society who is hosting a group read from September 1 through October 14.

I have yet to read this novel, but you may have convinced me to ignore the books I have stacked on my nightstand for my fall reading and quickly purchase a copy of the book! Anything you love enough to read twice is surely to be a winner, right?

This is one of my favourite books. It's been years since I've read this and I gave up my copy when I moved. It looks like I will be trying to find myself my own copy because your snippet reminded me why I loved this book so much. Happy reading!

I've given away books and then lived to regret it. Perhaps this is one which could stay on our shelves permanently. I'd like it for me Nook, though, as it is a bit cumbersome. There, an excuse to buy another copy!

Wonderful to know that you are enjoying re-reading 'The Historian', Bellezza. I also read it in 2006, I think. I loved it when I read it. For some reason I still remember one scene where the heroine and her father are sitting inside a cafe in Budapest and it is raining heavily outside. I remember liking that scene very much. I would love to re-read this book someday. Happy reading! Will look forward to hearing your thoughts

I've yet to read The Historian but I disliked The Swan Thieves so much that it left a bad taste in my mouth, although the writing was lovely. Not sure I'll ever get around to The Historian but I'm glad you loved it enough to reread! I'm considering a reread of Jane Eyre, soon. Right now, though, I'm doing what you're doing — stepping away from ARCs and reading what I feel like. At the moment, that happens to be a combination of a 1960s thriller (Ice Station Zebra), the history of one of my favorite places in England (Prehistoric Avebury) and a book on word play.

I must have read your post about changing your hair color from the iPad, since I didn't comment. For days, I've been wondering who it was that said she was going from brunette to blonde, haha. How did it turn out? I need to get my hair highlighted. I'm yucky old dishwater blonde, right now. Blah.

Vishy, I know what you mean about the scene(s) with her father in Eastern Europe. Each one makes me want to sit at their table! I get so lonesome for Europe, for its beauty and history and simplicity. It's really great to reread this book, and I'm glad you know of which I speak.

Thank you for the sweet words in your comment! It is my desire to bring the things that I love to other's attention so that they can enjoy them, too. I've tried just a out every red lipstick known to man, so if you want any input I'm glad to help. 😉 and hopefully,the books I read and review speak for themselves.

I just have to finish my current read and then I can dive once again into The Historian. I truly hope that I have the same experience as you and get to fully enjoy it for the second time. I can't remember much of it at this point so it will almost be like reading it again for the first time (except that I already remember loving it!).